CCTV of guest stealing chopping board!

[Elaine712]

Hi,

Yes this is as crazy as it sounds. I have 3 adults and 1 child guest currently in my property. 2 of the adults are grandparents and 1 adult is their daughter.

I happened to check my blink cctv camera as id had trouble with a neighbour the other week-so just checked in and saw the elderly female guest taking my white chopping board to their car and hiding it under the passenger seat.  I also think she has been snaffling other items and trying to hide them-going out and placing things in her car boot but i cant quite see what they are.

They have been very odd guests. They first arrive and wanted a late checkout as they arrived late. i said I can let them stay til 1pm. response was-"can we have longer?" not even a thanks for the extra 3 hours! i said no due to cleaning etc - no response.

I've got a no smoking policy yet she is smoking at the back door and chucking fag-ends down the drains. 

Today I saw the old woman taking the chopping board etc and tonight the younger adult guest had 2 teenagers and another little girl over. the teenagers left late tonight but we now have another child over the agreed guest numbers.

im a bit miffed about the stealing (the cost is minimal) and slightly worried they are stealing more bits.

They check out today and I've decided I will go park on the drive to effectively block them in and do "check out checks" and just have a look around. if the chopping board and other bits are missing I will ask them there and then if they know where the items might be. if they deny it i will show them the cctv. 

also worth noting-they havent used my front door at all. i state i have cctv covering my property on the listing but i think they have assumed its just the front door! and my camera covers our whole drive-not just the door. just seems so odd not to use thte front door unless they were trying to sneak extra guests in and steal things without being seen by the camera.

Any thoughts on how you would deal with this issue? Its not about the money-just fuming about the theft. i can't sleep for thinking it over so much.

thanks

[Anonymous]

@Margaret1040 Deposits don't actually exist on Airbnb, even though they confusingly prompt you to stipulate one in your settings. They don't charge or hold any kind of deposit, and whatever amount you put there has no influence on the results of a damage claim.

To request compensation, you can start the process at https://airbnb.com/resolutions 

[Michelle2475]

I’m constantly amazed at what people steal - a 5 gallon bucket, dish towels, spare blankets and pillows (brand new in package), beer mugs, ski jacket. The jacket was comical because it wasn’t mine and was left by another guest who literally broke the frame of a brand new couch. The beer mugs were admired by a guest and then poof!  My cleaner didn’t notice and I discovered months later. The last theft was a blanket literally off the bed - my cleaner did notice that one because it was pretty obvious. In checking the camera there he was walking out the door with it. It wasn’t expensive but I did get it back - more of a shame on you for stealing.